Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-09
4 Reply to " Senntus."

IL The EditOr of Dispatch
The communication In your paper
this morning signed "Senatus de-
serves a few words Of dispassionate re-
ply. Your correspondent can see no
way ont of the difficulties which are
supposed to beset the Democratic party
at the present juncture except the dis
solution of the organization Known as
the Law and Order League. | cannot
conceive why he did not suggest, as IN
alternative, the diSbanding of the Re-
form party, since he insists that it is
the existence Of the two organizations
which endargcIs the success oil the
democratic party.
respectfully insist that in this he is
mistaken. He has probably been mis-
led by the arguments OF those who are
seeking some excuse for their descrtion
from the Democratic party and their CO.
alition with the Republicans These
men say that the Law and Order
League is n secret political organiza-
ton intended for the aurpose Of an
tagomizing the working classes. This
charge is certainly untrue in fact and
is so preposterous that it is difficult to
believe that any man of ordinary in
telligence really gives it credit, though
he may assert it for purpose. The
league is not political organization.
II numbers among its members both
Democrats and Republicans. 1t has
many undreds-indeed Thousands
of workingmen upon its rolls, and
they are among its most active and
useful members. How could this he if
it was ahtagonistic to the interests OF
the working classes?
II is true that the prime object OF the
league was to oppose the boycott, and
in that it has been in part successful !;
but its mission is not yet accomplished.
If your correspondent thinks that the
odious boycott is no longer practiced
in this city he is much mistaken. The
"black list has disappeared under the
heel of the law, but it is well known
tlat there is q secret boycott still being
prosecuted. Indeed, in the matter Of
the City Hall there has been and Is a
persistent boycott which IS not secret
a determined effort to Dust from the
work every man who is not Gre
former ~. C., Knight OF Labor or a
Republican. This is fact that all men
know.
The charge that if there had been no
Law and Order League there would be
no Reform party is but part OF aplan ;
it is more obviously untrue and more
conspicuous for its insinccrity than any
Of the other charges. The Reform
rarity YVES organized and had carried
the municipal election long before the
league was even thought Of Did the
organization of the league perpetuate
the Reform party a.? i imagine that no
man is simple enough to believe that,
for if so, he must also believe that that
party merely intended TO win the vic
tory, but not 10 gather its fruits that
it meant TO carry the election and then
gracefully hand over the Offices to its
opponents, and that it would have done
all this, and would even now resign its
POWER and dissolve its organization, If
there had been no Law and Order
League. This is quite too palpable a
subferiuge, and it ought not to be ex-
pected that sensible men will swallowit.
Then what do Democrats mean
when they affiliate with Republicans
and oppose the Democratic party upon
such tiimsy excuses as these? In our
desire for party success We should not
shut our eyes TO facts. The Reform
party must come up before the people
for Judgment next spring. They mean
TO continue the control OF our munich
pal affairs by any means possible, even
by the defeat OF the Dmocratic party
in the coming election, il that be neces-
sary. 1t is openly charged that there
is IN understanding between tho Re-
publicans and the Reform party that
the latter shall aid the former in elect
ing Legislative ticket, in return that
The former shall help the latter to carry
the city at the next municipal election.
Ii this be true ii readily explains the
reasons assigned for the existence and
course Of the the Reform party-i. G.,